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OCTOBER 2014

CCCSS September Meeting Recap September 14, 2014 PLEASE NOTE that with severe A few minutes after 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 14, 2014, President Ken Byrne called the general meeting scale was brought to of the Central Coast Cactus and Succulent Society to order. Our first-time visitor received a succulent for the Exchange introducing herself, and the people who provided our snacks also received a succulent in richly deserved thanks. table. Please inspect Pat Gilson reminded us that the holidays are just around the corner and she has started organizing our December your contributions potluck dinner by starting the signup sheets for volunteers and food to accompany the turkey and ham that will carefully. No one be provided by CCCSS. Please let Pat know how many people will be attending and what will be contributed wants to introduce in labor and/or food. We need an accurate count of how many people to set up for and to feed. Don’t forget someone else's pests about donations for the auctions at the holiday meeting. Ann Byrne will have the signup sheets at the October into their collection! meeting. Terry Excel has returned to her duties as Editor of On the Dry Side (welcome back to a hard job!). She needs input from members who are not receiving the email copy of our newsletter. Please contact Terry if there is a problem. Donna Duerk came back from Massachusetts to find her gasterias had been prolific and brought in seeds to share. We were thanked for our contributions to the recent floral society show in Morro Bay. Kathie Matsuyama, doing double duty as a participant in the program while selling her beautiful in the other room, introduced the plants on the Brag Table. (PEOPLE! You need to bring in plants to show off! And we also would love to see the plants you are growing that represent the Plant of the Month). October’s Plant of the Month is Rhipsalis, a genus of epiphytic cacti, sometimes called Mistletoe Cacti. If you have any you want to share, it would be a treat (and educational) to see them.

The Brag Table featured a beautiful arrangement of flowering Haemanthus albiflos brought in by Tim Dawson. We later learned that the same plant had just won awards at the Morro Bay show. Beautiful! Rob Skillin joined Kathie to describe the remaining plants on the Brag Table which happened to be his own plants. Rob said the winter growers are starting to grow now; he then described the raffle plants. Kathie Matsuyama elaborated on the Plant of the Month, Anacampseros and its relatives. See Kathie’s article in last month’s newsletter for information about these plants that have beautiful flowers in common.

Kathie then introduced our featured speaker Bruce Hargreaves, who spoke about baobabs (Adansonia). There are eight of this unique tree. Six species live in Madagascar, one in mainland Africa, and one in Australia. The baobab is the national tree of Madagascar. It would not be possible to convey the spirit of Bruce’s talk, but it was sprinkled with props that illustrated various aspects of baobabs. They are huge, with some almost 100 feet high and up to 30 feet in diameter. They don’t have rings but layers, similar to an onion, so that their bark and outer layers can be removed without killing them. Baobab trees are considered succulents because of their ability to store water in their tissues. Bruce’s wife Polly narrated a picture show from their days in Africa, including a trip to a resort and campground named Planet Baobab. It wasn’t a theme park after all, but there was a baobab tree in the courtyard. There may be a few baobabs in California – Charles Varni said there is one in Santa Barbara, and someone else suggested Balboa Park in San Diego as a possible site. Apparently they can be propagated. Following the break and the raffles (great selection, Rob!), the meeting adjourned.

LET PAT GILSON KNOW YOUR INTENTIONS ABOUT THE DECEMBER POTLUCK

Respectfully submitted, Carol Harlow Moss, Secretary CCCSS MEMBERSHIP Sunday DUE NOW!!! If you cannot make it to the Oct. 12th at meeting, send your renewal to: 2:00 pm CCCSS RENEWAL c/o Mary Peracca THE ODD 4486 Sunflower Way FELLOWS San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 [email protected] HALL 550-6977 Membership: 520 DANA ST. single-$20 family-$25 business-$40 (off Nipomo St.)

SPEAKER OF THE MONTH PAUL MILLS While looking for a summer job in 1990 I happened across Abbey Garden Cactus and Succulent nursery in Carpinteria and instantly knew that I had to work there. I ended up working there for five years while finishing up studies in biogeography at UCSB and during that time had the opportunity to work in the field in Mexico with Charlie Glass, then of CANTE, and Ted Anderson of Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix. After Abbey Garden moved out of town in 1995 I started working at Lotusland and I am currently the assistant curator and plant propagator. In 1999 I took a year off to study plant conservation at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew outside of London and to travel in Europe and South America. I’ve had a long affinity to Chile and am currently working with Ventura Botanical Gardens to develop the Chilean plant collection. I own a small house on the central coast of Chile with a friend and ended up marrying a Chilean. A long with our seven year old daughter, we try to make an annual trip to Chile to visit family, eat amazing seafood and travel to further explore the flora Chile. In the north you find the hyper-arid Atacama Desert where some areas have never received measurable rainfall. Plants are relegated to the fog belt where they receive moisture in the form of condensation and occasional rain in conjunction with El Nino events. The majority of the cacti in the genera Copiapoa, Eriosyce and Eulychnia are found here. Central Chile enjoys a Mediterranean climate, just like central California, with warm, dry summers and wet, cool winters. The major population centers of Chile are located in the central part of the country and the landscape has been drastically altered by agriculture and for the massive plantations of pine and eucalyptus that are mostly used for pulp for foreign paper industries. There are isolated patches of native vegetation and a few national parks where the flora of the region can be appreciated. There are quite a few species of Eriosyce to be seen in the region along with Trichocereus (Echinopsis), Puya and the now ultra-common Cistanthe grandiflora. In the southern reaches of Chile there is increased rainfall so the cacti start to fall by the wayside but these temperate forests are home to the some of the southernmost bromeliads in the world. With its dramatic geography, amazing plants, stable government and strong economy, good infrastructure and warm people, Chile is an interesting and easy travel destination for intrepid plant seekers. Club Officers Board of Directors PRESIDENT September 14, 2014 Ken Byrne [email protected] VICE PRESIDENT Kathie Matsuyama [email protected] SECRETARY Carol Moss TREASURER Maggie Wagner HOSPITALITY Pat Gilson Following the general meeting of CCCSS, the following members assembled: Ann Byrne, [email protected] Ken Byrne, Pat Gilson, Harry Harlow, Mary Harlow, Kathie Matsuyama, Wayne Mills, Carol AT-LARGE Moss, Markus Mumper, Charles Varni and Maggie Wagner. Loring Manley AT-LARGE Maggie gave the Treasurer’s Report and indicated that all our bills are paid. Kathie Harry Harlow reported that the October speaker will be Paul Mills, Assistant Curator at Lotusland, who will speak about soil basics and staging plants. (We later learned that he will not be selling LIBRARIAN plants.) We discussed and clarified the purpose and makeup of a club calendar. Carol will Gene Schroeder [email protected] assemble an operational calendar. An events calendar will be included in the newsletter PUBLICITY by the editor. The use of a white board to announce future events was discussed. Ken Wayne Mills will bring one and Pat will find out from the Odd Fellows building manager if there is storage available. The group then had a lengthy discussion about presenting a survey to MEMBERSHIP the membership. Charles Varni presented a draft and received suggestions. Carol will Mary Peracca [email protected] represent CCCSS at the Quarterly Meeting of CGCI on September 19. Regarding the CSSA AFFILIATE Show and Sale, although the committee will not be active until January at the earliest, Rob Rob Skillin Skillin will try have his analysis of the “Standing Rules” for the S&S available by November NEWSLETTER EDITOR so that the revision of the Bylaws and Standing Rules can begin, and for guidance when the committee becomes active. Kathie raised the possibility of having a winter show for Terry Excell winter-growing plants that aren’t their best at the end of May. THERE WILL NOT BE A [email protected] MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN OCTOBER. The meeting adjourned at (All submissions to the 5:40 p.m. CCCSS newsletter must be submitted two weeks prior Respectfully submitted, to the monthly meeting.) Carol Harlow Moss, Secretary

GET SOME LOCAL CULTURE CCCSS member artists will be participating in the Open Studios OMG! THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING!!! art sales the middle two weekends in October (11/12&18/19). You can access and download the Open Studio catalog at www. Since I will be away for our October meeting, I thought I'd artsobispo.org. Ceramic artists Ben Trogdon and Maggie Wagner bring this up: The Holidays are coming and it's time to start (#187 & 189, 1st weekend only) and Charles Varni (#154) will planning the Pot-luck for December. Most of our members be featuring stoneware planters, some of them already planted know that the club supplies turkey & ham for all. However, with specimen plants. Carol Mortenson (#118) will be featuring we will, as always, need members to bring appetizers, salads, oil paintings of succulents. Find detailed maps and information side dishes, bread & butter, beverages and dessert. We also on which weekends the artists are open in the free catalog. will need people to set up, take down and clean up. Please think about what you want to do. I will have sign-up sheets available in September. I am looking forward to this being the best Pot-luck yet. For one thing, we have a much better facility this year (which in itself will help). DO YOU EXCEL??? If you have any questions, e-mail me: [email protected] or We are looking for a dedicated member that call me 805-481-5596. knows their way around the Excel program to be in charge of membership.

Pat Gilson If you are interested, contact President Ken Byrne at Hospitality [email protected] or see him at the meeting. PLANT OF THE MONTH: RHIPSALIS, LEPISMIUM AND by Kathie Matsuyama Rhipsalis Rhipsalis is a genus of epiphytic cacti. They are typically known as “mistletoe cacti”. It is the largest and most widely distributed genus of epiphytic cacti. Based on the latest taxonomic treatment in the New Cactus Lexicon, 35 species of Rhipsalis are recognized.

Rhipsalis is found as an epiphyte (a plant that grows on another plant but is not parasitic, such as a plant growing on tree trunks) in tropical rainforests. Some species may also grow epilithic (on the surface of rocks) or, rarely, terrestrial (in the ground). The genus is found widely in Central America, parts of the Caribbean and a great part of northern and central South America. The center of diversity of Rhipsalis lies in the rainforests of southeastern . It is found throughout the New World, but additionally in tropical Africa, Madagascar and Sri Lanka. It is the only cactus with a natural occurrence outside the New World. The plants can grow mostly pendent; few grow more or less upright or sprawling. There are three main stem shapes: terete (cylindrical or slightly tapering, and without substantial furrows or ridges), angular and flattened. The stems are succulent, but the degree of succulence varies between the species. Some have very thick stems Rhipsalis cereuscula (e.g. Rhipsalis neves-armondii), whereas other have very thin, filiform stems (e.g. Rhipsalis baccifera, Rhipsalis clavata). In the majority of species, spines are missing or occur only in the juvenile stage (this is most prominent in Rhipsalis dissimilis). The flowers are borne lateral or apical. They are small, usually less than ½” in diameter, white or whitish in most species. Yellowish flowers occur in R. dissimilis and R. elliptica. R. hoelleri is the only Rhipsalis species with red flowers. The fruits are R.hoelleri flower always berries, they are whitish or colored pink, red or yellow. Lepismium Lepismium largely occur in Bolivia, but are also found in adjacent Brazil and Argentina. Some species are quite common in cultivation while others are virtually unknown to growers. The generic name is taken from the Greek lepis, meaning a scale, and refers to the small scales set beneath the areole. Lepismium species are either epiphytic (tree-dwellers) or lithophytic (rock dwellers). They typically grow as hanging masses of many- branched stems that branch off from the middle of the stems (mesotonic). The stems vary from flat, to angled, to round in cross-section. Flowers arise along the sides of the stems and often line the entire length of the stem on both sides. The flowers themselves are relatively small, though generally larger than those of Rhipsalis. Several Lepismium Lepismium cruciforme species feature colored flowers and other have white flowers, L. cruciforme flower either of these turning into bright colored fruits later on.

Hatiora In the wild, this genus is restricted to southeastern Brazil. This genus was previously known as Hariota. The present name is a near anagram of the previous name which honored a 16th century botanist, Thomas Hariot. Today, most authors include 5 or 6 species within the genus. They are all epiphytic, growing in trees in more wet/humid regions. The stems of these species may be either flat and leaf-like or round in cross section. Some growers prefer to use the genus name Rhipsalis for the species with leaf- like stems. They are similar in that new growth and flowers arise from the end of the existing stem segments only. Flowers range in color from yellow-orange to pink to bright red and the fruits are fleshy round or angled. In cultivation, hybrids of H. gaertneri and H. rosea are among the most popular of all cactus species in cultivation. They are found world-wide in grocery stores and garden centers. They are often sold as “Spring Hatiora salicornioides Cactus” or “Easter Cactus” because they often bloom in spring. Although, if grown properly, these plants will flower 2 or more times within a year. Likewise common, but less-so is the species H. salicornioides which is sold as a hanging basket plant for its quaint stem growth. Other species in the genus are quite uncommon in cultivation. Hatiora rosea PLANT OF THE MONTH.... CONTINUED

Care for epiphytic cactus • Lighting: keep in shade or dappled shade; under trees, for example. Keep from freezing. • Watering: water well then let dry some between waterings, not bone dry, just barely damp. • Feeding: half diluted given monthly from April to September. • Temperature: room temperature the year round, a winter min. of 59 °f. • Soil: a regular well-drained cacti mix with added humus or compost, hardwood bark mulch or orchid mix with some perlite or vermiculite.

References: Wikipedia, www.CactusGuide.com and www.Rhypsalis.com Note the sculptural quality of this large species!

Autumn Garden Tour October 11th, 2014 9 am—3 pm presented by the Atascadero Mutual Water Company Are you trying to minimize irrigation in your garden? Are you more interested in enjoying your yard than in mowing and weeding? If so, you’ll want to attend the Autumn Garden Tour, where you will visit 10 diverse Atascadero homes, featuring landscapes that are saving water and labor while still providing wonderful outdoor living. Exhibitors will share ideas and products with you, helping to resolve your specific landscaping challenges. For more, info call 466-5347 or visit our Facebook page “Autumn Garden Tour” Garden Tour Wine and Appetizers at Portola Inn www.PortolaInn.com October 11, 4 pm Join us for wine and appetizers after the Autumn Garden Tour. Good wine and food at the beautiful Portola Inn gardens. Guests are asked to make a donation to the Multiflora Garden Club’s Scholarship Fund. Scholarships are awarded to deserving students who will major in the Earth Sciences. Portola Inn, 6650 Portola Road, Atascadero CA.

Upcoming Events Oct. 11: Autumn Garden Tour, Atascadero area. 9a-3p Info: 466-5347 or visit Facebook page “Autumn Garden Tour”. Oct. 18&19: Monterey Bay CSS Show & Sale. San Juan Bautista Community Hall, 10 San Jose St, San Juan Bautista, CA. Nov. 1-2: San Gabriel Cactus & Succulent Society Show and Sale. 9a -4p. Los Angeles County Arboretum. 301 N. Baldwin Ave. Arcadia, CA. Nov. 9: November meeting CCCSS: Speaker- Peter Walkowiak (Soil Basics and Staging) POM- Crassula Dec. 14: CCCSS HOLIDAY PARTY. SEE ANNOUNCEMENT THIS NEWSLETTER. Jan. 17, 2015: CSSA annual Desert Forum, Huntington Botanic Gardens and Library, Admission is free to CSSA members and members of CSSA Affiliated Clubs (wear your badge). 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA. POLICY FOR ADS This is your club! We would like you to have the ability to share your club related items so your Board of Directors implemented a new policy. “6.1 Individual club members may be allowed to place an announcement in the eNewsletter for plant related/club related items that might be of interest to the members. There will be no charge for the announcement and it should be limited to 30 words, and can include an optional small picture, and contact information; it can run for one month with an extension upon a re-submission of the ad material. The proposed ad must be emailed to the Newsletter Editor 2 weeks prior to the next CCCSS Monthly Membership Meeting meeting. It might not appear in the print version due to space limitations.”

?CERAMICS ANYONE? Charles Varni is offering a limited number of four hour workshops at Charles’ studio in Oceano. Classes are limited to no more than four students and the price is $75 which includes all materials, energy costs, and personalized instruction. Also, if you have 3 other people interested in a class, he will set up a class for you and your friends. His current classes are full but he is planning more classes in 2015. If you are interested in a future class, please contact him to get on a waiting list at [email protected] or 459.6698.

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